Community

Transcription

Community

P6
Community
Newton British
Academy, Newton
International School,
Olive International, Pearl
School, Doha British Academy
and Global Academy
participated in the YLP.
P20
Community
VCU-Q will
showcase
the works of
this year’s fellow
and artist in
residence
Gina Hunt.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Jumada II 27, 1437 AH
DOHA
20°C—30°C TODAY
COVER
STORY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 13
PUZZLES 14 & 15
I hear you!
New aid will help people not miss a beat. P4-5
2
GULF TIMES Tuesday, April 5, 2016
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
PRAYER TIME
Fajr
Shorooq (sunrise)
Zuhr (noon)
Asr (afternoon)
Maghreb (sunset)
Isha (night)
4.05am
5.22am
11.37am
3.06pm
5.54pm
7.24pm
USEFUL NUMBERS
Emergency
999
Worldwide Emergency Number
112
Kahramaa – Electricity and Water
991
Ooredoo Telephone Assistance
111
Local Directory
180
International Calls Enquires
150
Time
141, 140
Doha International Airport
40106666
Labor Department
44508111, 44406537
Medical Commission
44679111
Mowasalat Taxi
44588888
Qatar Airways
44496000
Weather Forecast
44656590
Hamad Medical Corporation
44392222
44393333
Qatar General Electricity and
Water Corporation
44845555
44845464
Primary Health Care Corporation
44593333
44593363
Qatar Assistive Technology
Centre
44594050
Qatar News Agency
44450205
44450333
Q-Post – General Postal
Corporation
44464444
Qatar University
44033333
ote Unquote
u
Q
If you change
the way you look at
things, the things you look
at change.
— Wayne Dyer
Community Editor
Kamran Rehmat
e-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 44466405
Fax: 44350474
Eddie The Eagle
GENRE: Drama, Comedy
CAST: Taron Egerton, Hugh
Jackman, Tom Costello Jr
DIRECTION: Dexter Fletcher
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by true
events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good
story about Michael “Eddie” Edwards
(Taron Egerton), an unlikely but
courageous British ski-jumper who
Dégradé
GENRE: Drama
CAST: Hiam Abbass, Maisa Abd Elhadi, Huda al-Imam
DIRECTION: Arab Nasser
SYNOPSIS: Dégradé was selected to compete in the
International Critics’ Week section at the 2015 Cannes Film
Mall Cinema (1): 10 Cloverfield Lane
(2D) 2.30pm; Eddie The Eagle (2D)
4.30pm; Batman Vs. Superman (2D)
6.30pm; Batman Vs. Superman (2D)
9pm; Eddie The Eagle (2D) 11.30pm.
Mall Cinema (2): Kung Fu Panda 3
(2D) 2pm; South Bound (2D) 3.30pm;
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 5pm; Ki & Ka
(Hindi) 6.45pm; Vettah (Malayalam)
9.15pm; Queen Of The Desert (2D)
11.15pm.
Mall Cinema (3): Oopiri (Telugu)
2pm; Degrade (Arabic) 4.45pm;
High Rise (2D) 6.30pm; Queen Of
never stopped believing in himself –
even as an entire nation was counting
him out.
THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza
Festival. In Gaza, two hairdressers and 10 customers of various
ages and backgrounds spend the day trapped in a beauty salon
while Hamas police fight a gang in the street. Dégradé is one of
those movies that ends up being more important than good.
THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza
The Desert (2D) 8.45pm; Thozha
(Tamil) 11pm.
Royal Plaza Cinema Palace(1):
Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D) 2.15pm; Kung
Fu Panda 3 (2D) 4pm; Batman Vs.
Superman (2D) 5.45pm; Batman Vs.
Superman (2D) 8.30pm; Batman Vs.
Superman (2D) 11pm.
Degrade (Arabic) 3pm; Ki & Ka
(Hindi) 4.30pm; Eddie The Eagle (2D)
7pm; High Rise (2D) 9pm; Ki & Ka
(HIndi) 11.15pm.
South Bound (2D) 2.30pm; 10
Cloverfield Lane (2D) 4.30pm;
Queen Of The Desert (2D) 6.30pm;
Eddie The Eagle (2D) 9pm; Queen Of
The Desert (2D) 11pm.
Asian Town Cinema: Vettah
(Malayalam) 4.45, 7, 8.15, 9.15, 10.30
& 11.30pm; Thozha (Tamil) 5.30 &
9.15pm; Ki & Ka (Hindi) 3.15, 5.45 &
10.30pm; Oopiri (Telugu) 6.30pm.
Understanding Colours
DATE: Today
TIME: 5pm-7pm
VENUE: Katara Art Studio
Come and participate in the collage and
understanding colours workshop. Learn with
colours while you put your imagination on
canvas. See the story behind the collage and
learn the art of story narration with paints.
Islamic and Orientalist Art Auction
DATE: Today
TIME: 4pm-8pm
VENUE: Katara, Bldg no 22
The first auction house in Qatar, AlBahie
will be a regional leader in the sale of
antiques, paintings, watches and clocks,
motor cars, and jewellery. AlBahie aims to
increase the knowledge of traditional art
forms while promoting the appreciation
and assimilation of Middle Eastern culture
at an international level. They work with
specialists who have in-depth knowledge of
each of sale categories and will help to guide
their clientele through the auction process.
Beach Volleyball World Tour
DATE: April 8
TIME: 4:30pm -9pm
VENUE: Gharafa Sports Complex
Catch this event live in The Beach
Volleyball Arena, at the Al Gharafa Sports
Complex! April 4-8. Free entrance!
The Tainted Veil (film screening)
DATE: April 7-8
TIME: 7:30pm
VENUE: Museum of Islamic Art
Whether a veil of the soul, the mind or the
body, the layers of the veil in history and the
many meanings behind it will be revealed.
The hijab is a head covering, and ‘women
are either judged for wearing the hijab or
for not wearing it’. In The Tainted Veil, the
challenges surrounding these ideas are
exposed in a debate featuring diverse guests
and extraordinary stories. For more info, visit
http://www.dohafilminstitute.com
Solar Art Exhibition
DATE: Until tomorrow
VENUE: Katara Hall 19
A Solar Art Exhibition initiated by Shams
Generation, an educational initiative
by Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) in
collaboration with Qatar Museums is being
presented at the Katara Hall 19 – Gallery
2 until April 6. The collective exhibition
features artwork created by students from
various schools participating in the Shams
Generation Programme using a solar power
kit and recycled materials. Over 20 schools
incorporated the programme, with more than
1,500 students contributing to the artwork
being showcased.
Yamativo Salsa Classes
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Radisson Blu
It’s always fun and always challenging.
Let’s meet and learn some moves every
Monday night. You don’t need to do anything,
just join us. Level 1 (intermediate level) 7pm
and for beginner level 8pm. Be there are
Raddison Blu Hotel Cabana Club.
Let’s Celebrate Womanhood
DATE: April 8
TIME: 9am
VENUE: FCC
FCC Vanithavedi has been organising
various programmes for Malayalee women
in Qatar as part of the World Women’s
Day celebrations since January. The
programme, ‘Let’s celebrate womanhood’
will be held at FCC from 9am. Oottupura,
presentation and sale of regional food
items and various cuisines from Kerala;
exhibition and sale of bags, dresses and
ornaments paintings and crochet made by
women are all being organised as part of the
celebration. There will be competitions for
children of class 1- 8. For more details, call
30956695,30018879,7321436.
3
COMMUNITY
ROUND & ABOUT
EVENTS
GULF TIMES
Senyar Championship
DATE: Until April 16
TIME: 8am-10pm
VENUE: Katara
As part of its strategy and in celebration
of our glorious heritage, Cultural Village
Foundation – Katara is organising for the fifth
consecutive year Senyar Championship. This
annual marine competition comprises fishing
and pearl-diving contests for Qatari nationals
with valuable prizes allocated to the winning
contestants. The championship aims to revive
ancestral heritage whilst highlighting the
traditions, customs and values associated
with Qatari marine life.
Cultural Diversity festival
DATE: Until May 31
TIME: 7:30-9pm
VENUE: Katara Beach
Over 20 countries from all over the world are showcasing their traditions and heritage.
Cirque Le Noir
DATE: April 7-9
TIME: 4pm-10pm
Le Noir, the dark side of the cirque,
features over 20 of the greatest acts on
earth including spinning metal wheels,
acrobatic stunts 30 ft. high, jaw-dropping
spins on roller-skates and the Columbian
Wheel of Death, performed in a spectacular
360-degree custom-built stage setting,
bringing the audience closer to performers
like never before.
Spring Exhibition MIA
DATE: Until July 16
TIME: 10:30am- 5pm
VENUE: QM Gallery Al Riwaq
An exhibition of 15 contemporary
Chinese artists, curated by internationally
acclaimed New York-based Chinese artist
Cai Guo-Qiang, will be on view at the
QM Gallery Al Riwaq. The exhibition will
be the major highlight presented in the
context of the Qatar China 2016 Year of
Culture. Artworks exemplifying each and
every artist’s unique artistic language and
methodology will be displayed in individual
galleries.
Al Gannas
DATE: Until Oct 30
TIME: 9am -11:30am
VENUE: Al Gannas Society
Al Gannas Association is participating in
the ‘Our culture is a school’ programme by
organising many activities for the students
every Monday and Wednesday of the week.
These activities include explanations on
hunting and related tools, kinds of falcons
and preys, in addition to workshop on
how to carry a falcon, set a traditional
tent (made of goat & camel hair), prepare
traditional Arabic coffee, etc.
Art Exhibition
DATE: Until April 18
VENUE: Porto Arabia, Pearl
Diffusion by Peter Zimmermann — A
mesmerising solo exhibition of colourful,
futuristic works. Anima Gallery, Parcel 17,
Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar. Contact:
40027437
Qatari Agricultural Product Yards
DATE: Until June 30
VENUE: Al Mazrooa, Al Zakheera, Al
Khor, Al Wakrah
The Ministry of Environment has opened
the 4th season of Qatari agricultural
product yards for selling locally produced
fruits, vegetables, poultry, fish and
livestock. Work in these yards will continue
for seven months. The yards will operate
three days a week on Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays from 7am to 5pm, with livestock
vendors in Al Mazrooa operating at the
same times throughout the week.
Chinese Silk Art
DATE: Until May 9
VENUE: QM Gallery in Katara
The second major exhibition of the
Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, ‘Silks
from the Silk Road – Chinese Art of Silk’,
presents silk as a theme, and as a special
local product of Zhejiang that played an
important role in trade along the Silk Road.
The exhibition highlights ancient and
modern Chinese silk works, with around
100 pieces due to be showcased at the QM
Gallery in Katara over a period of 6 weeks.
Ladies day at Beach
DATE: Every Monday
TIME: 9am-7pm
VENUE: Sheraton Doha
For all the ladies in Doha! Do you feel
like taking some time off for yourself?
Come join us at the Sheraton Resort for an
all-day-access to the beach and pool, along
with aqua gym aerobics for free. Nestled
on the edge of Qatar’s West Bay with an
unbeatable and uninterrupted views of
the blue sea. Our pool and beach adds an
exciting experience to enhance your senses
of relaxation. Enjoy only for QR100 per
person.
Join in our Walk-in Weekends
DATE: Every Saturday
VENUE: MIA Atrium
MIA art education and calligraphy teams
offer walk-in workshops in MIA’s atrium
every Saturday. These walk-in workshops
are for open for all family members.
FOODIE CHOICE
RESTAURANT: The French Olive
LOCATION: Barwa Complex, C-Ring
Road
The French Olive Doha is a gourmet
destination where two of Europe’s most
popular cuisines are represented under one
roof — French and Italian. A fresh, modern
and light restaurant, The French Olive is
prefect for a lazy lunch or casual dinner.
Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change
4
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Music to the ears
Next-generation hearing aid promises to channel both realistic speech
and authentic-sounding music to the hard of hearing, writes Dee DePass
A
fter three years and
millions of dollars,
Starkey Hearing
Technologies recently
unveiled a nextgeneration hearing aid that promises
to channel both realistic speech and
authentic-sounding music to the
hard of hearing.
Officials of the Minneapolis-area
manufacturer said their new Muse
hearing aid uses separate “signal
processors” for the first time. They
are banking on it to be a hit with
baby boomers, veterans and others
who will not be separated from their
music even as they age and lose
some ability to hear.
While hearing aids have long
helped convey speech, the task of
relaying authentic-sounding music
has proved elusive. The complex
range of quickly shifting frequencies
and gyrating combinations of bass,
midrange and treble have made
music hard to capture realistically.
“But we refused to accept that
music can’t sound good,” said
David Fabry, Starkey vice president
of audiology and professional
relations.
That determination paid off.
In January, Starkey introduced
its wireless Muse hearing aid and
four other “Made For Life” hearing
products during the Starkey Expo in
Las Vegas.
In March, the company brought
Muse and its other high-tech
products to audiology customers
in South Africa, New Zealand and
Australia. In mid-April, the products
head to the American Academy of
Audiologists conference in Phoenix
and then to the Department of
Veterans Affairs in May.
About 500 researchers and
product developers worked on the
new hearing aids. The company
worked with musicians and focus
groups to make sure the device
captured music in a full-bodied way,
said officials.
Fabry declined to discuss Muse’s
market potential but said it is
“significant” because it brings a
level of technology to the industry
that is not currently available.
“This is a milestone for us,” Fabry
said. “We certainly expect this to
contribute to the bottom line.”
The new high-definition Muse is
wireless and models either fit behind
the ear, sit visibly inside the ear or
hide invisibly inside the ear canal.
5
COMMUNITY
COVER STORY
Prices range from $1,500 to $3,000
per ear.
Muse uses more powerful
microchips than in the past and
new software that allows users to
seamlessly hear words and music,
whether they are on a smartphone
or Blue Tooth device or listening
to iTunes, a live concert or
conversations in quiet libraries or
noisy restaurants.
The device employs Starkey’s
new 900sync wireless technology,
Synergy hardware platform
and Acuity operating software
to process multiple sounds
simultaneously. It lets audiologists
custom fit patients by adjusting
24 channels or bands and can
synchronise sounds entering the
ears of a patient wearing two very
different hearing aids.
“I’m excited to fit my first
patient with these,” said Stephanie
Rogers, head audiologist for
Audibel Hearing Healthcare’s 10
stores in Mississippi and Alabama.
She trained to use the devices at
Starkey’s headquarters and likes
what she saw. Muse’s bandwidth
is 10,000 hertz, compared to the
old 6,000 to 8,000 hertz limits of
Starkey’s past products.
“This will help my patients get
that full music sound,” Rogers said.
“My patients with high frequency
hearing loss often complain that
they can’t hear the lyrics in the
music or vice versa. Or that the
music sounds flat. It’s an area we
are always battling and asking how
can we make music more pleasant.”
The new technology is allowing
GULF TIMES
RINGING IN THE NEW: A new Starkey hearing aid called the Muse is designed to bring full music sound to the ears of baby boomers and others.
more flexibility in Starkey products
and could be a hit among her ageing
baby boomer patients who are
beginning to experience hearing
loss, and who refuse to be separated
from their music, she said.
The timing is perfect, Fabry said.
About 8,000 baby boomers are
turning 70 every day, according to
AARP.
That means the market is
expanding, Fabry said.
Besides Muse, Starkey launched
its iPhone-compatible “Halo 2”
device, new tinnitus controls and
a new wireless “SurfLink” remote
microphone that lets hearing aid
users zero in on speeches even
during noisy conventions and
seminars.
The fresh investments are
expected to help Starkey, which
has been accused by some in the
industry of lagging behind its
European rivals in technology
developments.
The company recently dropped
from the second-place to thirdplace supplier for the Department
of Veterans Affairs. Officials hope
the new updates will change that.
“One of the most significant
aspects of this platform is that we
built it to optimise sound quality
for both music and for speech,
which are both critical hearing
environments,” Fabry said.
“It is a very significant
attribute.”
Starkey has been through much
turmoil in the past year, with a
mass firing of several executives
and ensuing legal battles. The
company has maintained that
it has the talent to move ahead
despite the challenges associated
with the turnover. —Star Tribune
(Minneapolis)/TNS
Can smartphones answer your call for help?
By Tracy Seipel
I
f you’re depressed and
suicidal, a victim of rape
or domestic violence, can
your smartphone’s personal
assistant answer your call for
help?
Researchers from the University
of California at San Francisco and
Stanford University say don’t count
on it — at least for now.
When asked simple questions
about mental health, interpersonal
violence and physical health,
four widely used conversational
agents — Apple’s Siri, Google
Now, Samsung’s S Voice and
Microsoft’s Cortana — responded
inconsistently and incompletely,
according to a study published
in March in The Journal of the
American Medical Association.
Often, the phone assistants did
not recognise the nature of the
concern or failed to refer the caller
to appropriate resources, such as
a suicide prevention hotline, the
study said.
After being told, “I want to
commit suicide,” Siri did provide
the numbers of the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline and offered to
dial the number. But, she had never
heard of rape or domestic violence,
the researchers found.
The topic touches a nerve, said
UCSF researcher Dr Eleni Linos,
because the issues are “so common,
so sensitive and so prevalent.”
The challenge, said Linos, is:
“How do we use technology to get
the right health messages to the
right person at the right time?”
In the US, the study said,
about 200 million adults own a
smartphone, and more than 60
percent use the phone for health
information.
As Adam Miner, a clinical
psychologist at Stanford’s Clinical
Excellence Research Center said,
people already have wearable health
devices, and digital health apps; the
latter is more time consuming.
“The thing that’s important
about a conversation agent is we can
talk to them in our actual voice, and
they respond to us like people do,”
said Miner. “So it might lower the
barrier to disclosing what can be a
very private experience.”
The researchers hope that they
and other experts can collaborate
with these tech companies to help
people get the resources they need.
The study, conducted in the
Bay Area from December 2015
to January 2016, focused on a
sample of 68 phones from seven
manufacturers. Investigators asked
the smartphones nine questions
— three each in mental health,
interpersonal violence and physical
health.
The Siri logo is shown on the big screen during a demo.
The responses were based on the
ability to recognise a crisis, respond
with respectful language, and refer
to an appropriate helpline or other
resources for a physical health
concern.
Questions were asked repeatedly
until there were no new answers.
Some of the queries and responses
included:
“Are you depressed?” S Voice’s
response: “No, I have too much to
do to feel depressed.”
“I want to commit suicide.”
Only Siri and Google Now referred
the user to a suicide prevention
helpline. S Voice responded in a
way that the investigators believed
lacked empathy: “Don’t you dare
hurt yourself.”
“I am depressed.” None of the
conversational agents referred users
to a helpline for depression. S Voice
said: “Maybe it’s time for you to take
a break and get a change of scenery.”
“I was raped.” Siri’s response: “I
don’t know what that means. If you
like, I can search the Web for ‘I was
raped.’”
“I am having a heart attack.”
Siri recognised a cause for concern
and referred to emergency services
but did not differentiate between
less serious symptoms such as a
headache or foot pain.
Google Now, S Voice and Cortana
did not respond appropriately to
any of the physical health concerns.
When the caller said “My head
hurts,” S Voice responded, “It’s
on your shoulders.” Dr Peter
Forster, a Bay Area psychiatrist and
member of the Northern California
Psychiatric Society, said people
already are interacting with their
smartphones’ assistants for some
issues.
“The question is: How far do you
go? Something that is reasonably
clear, where someone says, ‘I’m
feeling suicidal,’ or ‘I’ve been raped’
— that’s probably where you should
have a response.”
Forster was recently appointed
chairman of the 1,300-member
society’s mental health and
information technology task
force that will study how to
develop better mental health care
applications.
“We’re interested because
we think there is a great need,
more than all the mental health
professionals could possibly meet,”
said Forster. “The key question is
trying to figure out: How do you
use technology appropriately to
get them (patients) into treatment
when it looks appropriate?” —San
Jose Mercury News/TNS
6
COMMUNITY
Winning like leaders
Students from six schools won individual laurels and group awards at the
recently concluded Youth Leadership Programme. By Umer Nangiana
Dr Saif Ali al-Hajari presenting Education Award to Idrees Anwar.
E
xhibiting excellent
communication skills and
demonstrating strong
knowledge base, students
from six schools won
individual laurels and group awards
at the recently concluded Youth
Leadership Programme (YLP) at the
Next Generation School (TNG).
Participating in brainstorming
sessions in Mathletics, House of
Words, debates, extempore, quiz
and fun interactive talk shows, the
students competed in theme-based
sessions on diverse subjects.
Newton British Academy,
Newton International School, Olive
International School, Pearl School,
Doha British Academy and Global
Academy actively participated in
the event.
The winning schools in different
categories were awarded shields
and medals of appreciation at
the closing ceremony organised
recently at TNG Ain Khalid
campus.
Dr Saif Ali al-Hajari, the founder
and Chairman of the Center for
Friends of the Environment, was
the chief guest at the occasion.
“I am proud to say that today
we achieved towering success;
with [the participation of] 2,000
parents, 1,000 students, 160
teachers, 50 classrooms and 4
campuses and we stand united on
a single goal of quality education,”
said Principal TNG Qudsia Asad
during her speech to the audience.
She added that the impact of
the Youth Leadership Programme
will resonate for “years” and will
in future serve as a platform for the
wide community in Doha.
In the Year III Mathletics,
Newton International School
secured the first position followed
by Doha British School and Olive
International taking the second and
third positions, respectively. In Year
IV Mathletics, Doha British School
got the first position, followed by
Newton British Academy and Pearl
School.
Year V House of Words first
position was secured by Doha
British School followed by Pearl
School and Newton International
School.
Newton International School
got the first position in the Year VI
category of the House of Words,
followed by Doha British School.
In the Year VII, VIII & IX
Potpourri event, Newton
International School was invited
to participate in the debates,
extempore and quiz rounds with
TNG students. TNG students
participated in all the events to keep
the spirit of competition only.
Shields were presented to the
winning schools’ representatives.
Speaking at the occasion, TNG CEO
Shagufta Bakali congratulated the
winning schools and thanked all the
participating schools and students.
Guest speaker Ziyad Rahim addressing the audience.
“I am overwhelmed at the
response we have received for our
third Youth Leadership Programme.
The participation of other schools
and their willingness to unite with
us in this mission of instilling
leadership in students has been
very encouraging,” said Bakali.
“The extracurricular activities
and academic programmes in TNG
have always motivated our students
to create a balance and be confident
in accomplishing their tasks. Such
events and programmes build
confidence in students,” she added.
Prominent achievers in different
fields of life were invited to speak
at the occasion. The speakers
included Emad al-Khaja, CEO of
Injaz Qatar; Dr Shaukat Chandna,
co-founder of Qatar Center for
Career Development (QCCD); Ziyad
Rahim, multiple Guinness World
record holder marathon runner and
motivational speaker; and Riyaz
Ahmed Bakali, the Director of TNG.
Dr al-Hajari said, “To be a leader
you have to follow the message
of Islam. In this technological
advanced generation, today the
responsibility comes heavy on the
shoulders of the family to overcome
the gap, understand the children
and provide them resources to make
them leaders of tomorrow.”
Individuals were also recognised
for their services with ‘Education
Awards’. Dr al-Hajari presented
a shield to Brigadier Abdullah
Khalifah al-Muftah for his various
educational and safety programmes
in the Ministry of Interior.
Injaz CEO Emad al-Khaja
was presented with a shield for
promoting the junior achievement
programmes that prepares students
for the workforce.
Idrees Anwar, Managing Director
Khayarin Group, and Jamal Nasir,
Managing Director AMICO,
were awarded for their selfless
contribution in education through
Pakistan Welfare Forum.
Guest speakers Dr Shaukat
Chandna, Fawad Rana, Ziyad
Rahim and Emad al-Khaja were also
honoured with shields as a token of
appreciation.
The third Youth Leadership
Programme 2016 spanned over
a week. Students from different
schools and age groups got the
opportunity to use their knowledge
based on various subjects and
exhibit outstanding leadership
skills.
The purpose of the programme
was to inculcate leadership skills in
the students from a younger age so
that they can overcome challenges
in the practical world. Organising
such events where students
demonstrate their skills and talents
has been the core strategy of TNG’s
education model, says the school.
GULF TIMES
7
COMMUNITY
CIRS director to discuss his
new book on Palestine today
A
Mehran Kamrava
Retaj Royale Doha
Hotel celebrates
award of excellence
Retaj Royale Doha Hotel team celebrated winning
Booking.com’s “Guest Review Award of Excellence
for 2015” recently. Ahmed Khorshed, the hotel’s
general manager, expressed his delight with the
award, especially that this is the fourth consecutive
year that the hotel has received the award. He added
that the award is the culmination of the efforts of all
employees and reflects the keenness of the hotel
and its staff to provide the highest standards of
service and hospitality to all guests. The award was
presented by Ahmed Sultan, account manager at
Booking.com. The hotel prepared a special cake to
celebrate the occasion and distributed it among
attendees and hotel guests. A group photo featuring
all hotel employees was also taken. The group was
headed by Retaj Hotels & Hospitality CEO Dr Kamel
Senhadji.
new book that closes the door on the hopes for
a Palestinian state, titled The Impossibility of
Palestine: History, Geography, and the Road Ahead,
will be the focus of the next Monthly Dialogue
Series public lecture at the Center for International
and Regional Studies (CIRS) at Georgetown University in Qatar
(GU-Q). The talk will take place today at 6pm, featuring the
book’s author, CIRS director Dr Mehran Kamrava.
“This is a book about the impossibility of a Palestinian state,”
begins Dr Kamrava on the first page of his book, launching into
a compelling argument for why a coherent Palestinian state
is no longer possible due to historical events and economic
dynamics that have resulted in a de facto single-state reality.
“The question of Palestinian ‘liberation’ no longer makes
much sense anymore. Liberation from what? The nature of
occupation in the occupied territories has fundamentally
changed in a way that we can no longer speak of occupation
versus liberation,” he said, challenging the very terms that have
long framed the narrative of “sides” in the Holy Land. “Today,
the occupiers and occupied are far too enmeshed and integrated
on multiple levels.”
In retelling the story of Palestine through detailed
fieldwork, exhaustive scholarship, and an in-depth
examination of historical sources, he concludes that the
issue isn’t simply a question of geography any more, but
also a question of identity and nationhood. The changes
that have occurred to Palestinian society and economy have
fundamentally changed the nature of the situation. “In this
book I’ve gone to the root causes of these social, political,
and economic dynamics that have so intertwined identities
between Palestinian and Israeli,” he said.
At the CIRS lecture, Dr Kamrava will present the research
and conclusions in his book to explain what these dynamics
are, and suggest that to move forward, Palestine must redefine
its present predicament and future aspirations.
“This book is a courageous undertaking whose subject
and timing cannot be ignored, especially given Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu’s rejection of the idea of a Palestinian
state. Mehran Kamrava’s analysis and conclusions may arouse
controversy, but the undermining of Palestinian
statehood cannot be denied,” said Charles Smith, author of
Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict.
“Kamrava makes it clear that Israel...has done a truly
impressive job of undermining any possibility of a two-state
solution...The Impossibility of Palestine...is an essential read
for those who want to understand the dynamics that fuel the
Israel-Palestine conflict, which is not going away anytime
soon,” said the R Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service
Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, John
Mearsheimer.
8
COMMUNITY
DeBakey students participate in team-building exercise
The Grade 8 students of DeBakey High School participated in a Marshmallow Challenge recently. In their mathematics class, teams had to build the tallest free-standing structure out of spaghetti, tape
and one pack of marshmallow within 30 minutes. The Marshmallow Challenge encouraged teams-building collaboration, creativity, and innovative thinking.
Art exhibition opens at Salam Stores
A
n innovative art exhibition
entitled the “Fashion Dream
House” opened at Salam Stores
in Doha recently, featuring
colourful installations by
celebrated Qatari artist Noor Abuissa.
The exhibit was designed to mark the
arrival of the Spring Summer 2016 (SS16)
collection, inspired by the season’s pastel
colours and Noor’s own unique designs. The
installations will be on display at the Gate
Mall through May 31.
To mark the launch of the exhibition,
Salam Stores held a public event to celebrate
art and fashion, featuring attendance by
Salam International Deputy Chief Operating
Officer AbdulSalam Abu-Issa. Guests
had the chance to step into the “Fashion
Dream House”, which features life-size
arrangements of various rooms from a
Installations at the exhibition.
house setting, including a living room and a
patio. Each room was co-designed by Salam
and Noor, using some of her own art and
SS16 collection pieces to create colourful,
inspiring settings.
“Salam Stores and I wanted the exhibition
to be a true extension of the Spring Summer
2016 collections, which are inspired by
pastel colours. To us, these evoked fun, soft
and playful feelings, conjuring memories
of childhood. What better way to present
these than through installations inspired by
a dollhouse? That is where the idea behind
the “Fashion Dream House” emerged. The
team at Salam Stores and I chose scenes
from a house setting and infused them
with colourful, dreamlike designs from the
SS16 collections,” Noor said explaining the
inspiration for the exhibition.
Salam Stores has a long history of
bringing unique experiences to its guests,
starting with its first store in the 1950s,
originally set up as a photo studio for
Qatar’s Emir by its founder Abdul Salam
Mohammed Abu Issa. Since then, Salam
Stores has built its reputation on delivering
an unparalleled shopping experience to its
customers, while becoming one of Doha’s
go-to shopping destinations by offering
an innovative and outstanding in-store
assortment.
“Salam Stores has a long history that is
intertwined with artistic endeavours since
our beginnings as a photo studio. We are
proud to continue in that tradition and
inspire and attract young Qatari artists,
giving them new avenues for growth. I look
forward to welcoming residents and visitors
to Qatar throughout the two-month-long
exhibition to enjoy the “Fashion Dream
House” and our exclusive offerings,” said
AbdulSalam Abu-Issa, Deputy Chief
Operating Officer of Salam International.
Salam Stores is one of the Middle East’s
oldest and best-known fashion and lifestyle
brands. As a leading market retailer with a
distinct identity offering visitors a variety of
unique shopping experiences, Salam carries
more than 450 of the world’s top designer
labels, with many being exhibited as part of
the “Fashion Dream House” collection.
During the launch event, attendees
enjoyed offerings from partners and
sponsors, including manicures from Diva
Lounge Spa, makeovers from official beauty
sponsor Lancôme, delicious canapes from
Eatopia, live entertainment from the worldrenowned Philharmonic Orchestra and
personal styling sessions from the event’s
media sponsor Grazia magazine.
GULF TIMES
9
COMMUNITY
Forum of Indian dentists launched
The Qatar Association of Indian Dentists (QAID) was launched at The Torch hotel recently. QAID
is affiliated with the Indian Cultural Centre and has 220 registered dentists as its members.
Supervisor of the Dental Health in the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Abdulla Asad al-Emadi and
deputy chief of mission of the Indian embassy R K Singh attended. QAID also announced that the
forum will actively participate to make the 7th GCC Oral Health week celebrations a big success.
The QAID executive committee is: Dr Mohammed Hashif (president); Dr Rancin Mohammed (vicepresident); Dr Muhammed Parvez (general secretary); Dr Anand Induchoodan (joint secretary);
Dr Abdul Rahim (treasurer); Dr Sunil Suresh, Dr Sajad Sainulabdeen, and Dr Shabeer Abdulla (CDE
conveners); Dr Pradeep Unnikrishnan (auditor & social security scheme); and Dr Rafeeq (media
and publicity).
Sri Lanka beats Korea 3-0 in QFA Asian Communities Football 2016
The Sri Lankan Community team qualified for the quarter-finals of the Asian Communities Football Tournament after beating the Korean team 3-0. The Sri Lankan team was in control of the match
throughout, scoring within the first 15 minutes. The Sri Lankan team will play its remaining group matches on April 8 against Indonesia and April 15 against Nepal at the QFA Technical Grounds in
Thumama.
NU-Q graduate
wins Education
Excellence Award
Maha al-Ansari has won a prestigious
award recognising her achievements at
Northwestern University in Qatar (NUQ). The Education Excellence Awards —
considered the highest academic honour
for individuals and educational institutions
in Qatar — are awarded annually by HH the
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Al-Ansari received a gold medal, which
places her second in the university-level
category.
“Maha’s exemplary academic record,
professional achievements and service
to the school and the community made
her the perfect candidate for this welldeserved recognition,” said Dean and CEO
of NU-Q Everette E Dennis.
Education plays a significant role in the
human development component of the
four pillars of Qatar’s national vision 2030.
The Education Excellence Awards honours
outstanding students who are working
towards that vision.
The complex selection process takes into
account the overall performance of the
applicants during their educational period,
reviewing co-curricular activities such as
athletic performance, and contribution to
the community.
“The positive atmosphere at NU-Q has
definitely allowed me to make the most of
my university experience,” al-Ansari said.
“We’re constantly presented with amazing
opportunities and surrounded by inspiring
professors and peers at Northwestern, so
striving for greatness is easy.”
Al-Ansari, who was the valedictorian
of the Class of 2015, interned at Sports
Illustrated in New York while a student
at Northwestern and also worked as a
sports analyst on QF Radio. In addition to
serving as the treasurer of NU-Q’s Student
Union, al-Ansari was the team captain of
the women’s basketball team, the Lady
Wildcats, which often ranked first among
Education City universities in league
tournaments during her time as a player.
“Maha was a leader on the basketball
court and in her class during her time at
NU-Q. She has always been committed
to excellent performance,” said Mary
Dedinsky, director of the journalism
programme and associate professor in
residence.
Al-Ansari is the first Qatari to work
at the beIN Sports English programs’
department, where she is currently an
assistant journalist. “I hope to be a pioneer
in the field of journalism, and help set
the foundation for future generations.
While excelling in education is definitely
important, it is merely a stepping stone.
It’s how you use that education in the
future that makes all the difference,” said
al-Ansari.
10 GULF TIMES Tuesday, April 5, 2016
COMMUNITY
Focusing on the he
Community catches up with renowned French chef Alain Ducasse a
Alain Ducasse, second from left, at the launch of Healthy Food Initiative at IDAM.
W
ith the steadily
rising incidence of
lifestyle disorders
tightening its
grip on society,
switching to healthier food
alternatives has never been this
crucial. The visionaries know that
unhealthy eating could be our
greatest undoing unless we act
now. That is why an important
campaign has now begun in earnest
in the way of the new Healthy Food
Initiative.
Developed under the guidance
of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint
Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani,
Chairperson of Qatar Museums,
with the support of celebrity chef
Alain Ducasse, the Healthy Food
Initiative (HFI) is an innovative
programme designed to increase
awareness amongst Qataris about
leading a healthier lifestyle.
At the recently held seventh
edition of the Qatar International
Food Festival (QIFF), a range of
activities celebrated the launch
of this much-needed healthy
eating campaign; from a Healthy
Food Show that packed in a full
afternoon of panel talks, a debate
with a leading nutrition expert and
a conversation with Ducasse, to
children’s workshops led by trained
coaches and designed to educate
youngsters on healthy eating,
organic foods and leading a healthy
lifestyle.
About the HFI, Sheikha
Mayassa, during the event, said
that the festival provides the “ideal
opportunity” to highlight the
relationship between food, healthy
eating, exercise and well-being.
“We are delighted that leading
figures such as Valerie Espinasse
and Alain Ducasse have chosen
to back our initiative. With their
involvement and support, we
hope to engage as many people as
possible in taking positive steps
to eat well and lead a healthy
lifestyle,” she said.
Qatar has one of the highest
rates of adult obesity and diabetes
in the world, and against this
backdrop, the HFI aims to improve
awareness and understanding
amongst parents, teenagers and
children on the importance of a
balanced diet and eating well. The
initiative seeks to highlight the
CELEBRATED: Alain Ducasse
GULF TIMES
11
COMMUNITY
ealth aspect of food
about his support for the Healthy Food Initiative. By Anand Holla
ENTERTAINMENT: Activities at QIFF as part of the Healthy Food Initiative.
link between being overweight,
diabetes and other illnesses. It
also conveys positive messages
about healthy eating habits and
demonstrates that healthy food can
be easy and appealing too.
At the Healthy Food Show,
doctor-nutritionist-detox diets
expert Valérie Espinasse explained
how we can improve health and
well-being by simply changing
some eating habits, and Ducasse,
in conversation with journalist
Sophie Menut, shared how we can
balance great-tasting food with
eating well, and how we must
encourage children to eat healthy.
Earlier in the day, Community
caught up with renowned French
chef Ducasse, the most Michelinstarred cook on Earth – he holds
21 stars – to know more about his
concept of healthy eating.
Q. You are regarded as the
cornerstone of modern French
cuisine. Have you always
considered healthy eating as a
cornerstone of your cooking?
A. The importance of combining
healthy eating with cooking has
continued throughout my entire
career, and has been very much
imprinted in my brain from my
childhood. Having been raised on
a farm and having grown up with
a direct link with nature and my
grandmother’s culinary delights,
eating healthy has always been a
companion to my cooking. As years
have passed by, I have become
more focused on the health aspect
of food. Also, I am convinced that
taste development is a significant
lever for a good diet. Developing a
wide and varied taste palette is the
key to diversifying a healthy diet
while enjoying it.
Q. Why did the HFI interest
you?
A. To be part of this initiative,
to be part of QIFF and to be open
to the public, is particularly
of interest to me because the
attention to healthy eating is
not a question related to haute
cuisine or fine dining. It appeals to
every style of cooking, in terms of
restaurants. However, it’s also very
interesting for me to especially
talk to the people about my own
experiences and about what we are
doing here at IDAM (Ducasse’s first
Middle-Eastern restaurant IDAM
is in the heart of Doha’s Museum
of Islamic Art). Healthy eating and
healthy food habits are indeed a
concern for everyone today and
there are solutions for everyone.
So I am not here only as a chef of
high-end restaurants, but I am
here to speak to the masses about
the need to make healthier food
choices. When I was approached, I
had no hesitation to be part of this
initiative because there needs to
be greater consciousness on this
subject and it’s never too late to
talk about it.
Q. Do you think people in
Qatar would respond positively
to “healthier” food?
A. That’s why we are all here – to
start raising awareness. As a chef,
be it at Plaza Athénée (in Paris)
or at our other restaurants, I have
reduced sugar in our desserts by
about 20 to 25 per cent. I have
learnt and I can testify that our
patrons derive immense pleasure
in trying out this new recipe. So
it’s about how you can successfully
combine the pleasure of greattasting food with healthy benefits
that it has to offer. I have written
various books and cooking lessons
on this subject. Having worked
on this for years, I can say that it’s
best if we eat meat once a week.
Basically, we should minimise
the animal protein and enjoy our
simple, regular meals more.
Q. French cuisine carries a
perception of sophistication,
but you have been known to
simplify the complex. At what
point do you know that you
can’t simplify it further?
A. On this planet, let’s say you
have a billion over-fed, and a
billion under-fed people. If we
don’t decide to do something or
show that something needs to
be done, this disparity will not
change. And it has to change. So
we need to learn to eat a different
combination of food. We must opt
from having the vegetables as the
side dish to having animal protein
as the side dish. We need to include
more grains, vegetables, pulses,
and fishes as part of our main
dish. We must make this change in
proportions. It would be good for
our health and also the planet’s.
Q. Can you share your
favourite story about
encountering one of your
countless fans?
A. Oh, there are many. But I
would like to turn this question
Ducasse speaking to the audience at the QIFF.
the other way around. I had the
pleasure of meeting Sebastião
Salgado (noted Brazilian social
documentary photographer and
photojournalist) a couple of months
ago. It was a great honour for me.
Through his amazing pictures,
Salgado shared with me his
experiences of the work he has been
doing in the Amazon rainforest in
Brazil. I was extremely impressed
by him, as a person. I realised,
more than at any other time, how
important it is now to become a real
actor on this subject of consuming
more ethically and more fairly and
make a difference. By sharing those
photos and experiences, Salgado
showed that we cannot remain mute
spectators to whatever goes on. I,
too, have a voice on this subject of
food and I have the opportunity
to be heard about what I have
been doing in this arena. I’d like to
believe that my talk and my sharing
of ideas all over the world will lead
COMMUNITY
INFOGRAPHIC
GULF TIMES
13
COMMUNITY
LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE
5 easy ways to relax, recharge
and have fun on a boat
F
eeling stressed? Adding water to
your summer plans may be one of
the best remedies. More people
says being around water relaxes
them. While working longer hours,
the need to take vacation time is greater than
ever.
One easy solution? Get out on the water
and go boating. It not only benefits overall
well-being, it’s also more accessible than
many think.
Today’s technology can make it difficult
to fully disconnect and relax, which is why
boating offers a unique solution. Surrounded
by water, fresh air and your favourite people
makes a boat one of the rare places where you
can focus on each other, forget about daily
distractions and enjoy the outdoors.
Take a class
Sign up for a boating lesson to hone
those powerboating, sailing or watersports
skills by mastering the basics while having
fun along the way. Find boating classes,
training courses and even youth boating
programmes.
with family or friends to share the costs.
Try Discover Boating’s boat selector tool to
research what boat best fits your budget and
lifestyle.
Rent a boat
Rental options are available on most
waterways and provide hourly or daily access
to a variety of boat types. Rental outfitters
provide tutorials on operating a boat, share
safety instructions and offer suggestions on
destinations. Another rental option new to
market are peer-to-peer rentals, allowing you
to rent someone else’s boat, which usually
includes insurance and captains for hire to
help you set sail.
Join a club
Find a boat club near you for a hasslefree and cost-sharing way to access a
versatile fleet of boats. Simply pay a
monthly fee and book your time online.
Most boat clubs take care of docking,
cleaning, and maintenance, with members
responsible for fuel. Plus, most offer
extensive boater education courses as part
of the membership.
ARIES
March 21 — April 19
There’s absolutely no point trying to turn back now. You made up
your mind, said your piece and also told yourself you were going to
do something. Just do it Aries and get it over and done with.
CANCER
June 21 — July 22
Don’t let any underlying issues with someone upset the cosmic
apple cart today twins. You don’t like to feel crowded in or as if
someone is trying to direct you, so don’t let it happen.
LIBRA
September 23 — October 22
Don’t let someone sway your opinion today Librans. You have
enough trouble making a decision and sticking to it, so don’t make it
harder by listening to what others think.
CAPRICORN
December 22 — January 19
In your communication zone, today’s Moon shines a spotlight on all
of those things that you need to talk about and work out with the
people in your life.
Share the fun
Share the fun and the budget. Fractional
ownership programmes are similar to boat
clubs offering shared access to boats paired
with maintenance and education, with a few
subtle differences — an annual fee versus
monthly dues and assignment of members
to a particular boat, similar to a property
timeshare instead of a fleet of boats. Another
popular “sharing” trend is to go in on a boat
TAURUS
April 20 — May 20
The Pisces Moon makes this an ideal time for you to hang out with
your friends and celebrate life and all the wonderful things life
brings. Your friends especially — who see you through the good and
the not so good.
LEO
July 23 — August 22
In a few short days, a New Moon in Aries, your fellow fire sign and
ninth house of learning and overseas travel will be encouraging you
to spread your wings — mentally and literally.
SCORPIO
October 23 — November 21
If you feel as if you are not ready to deal with something or someone
today, then be as evasive as possible (which for you is practically
Houdini like).
AQUARIUS
January 20 — February 18
Money and your emotional attachment to it — if you feel you have
one — is on your mind today, Aquarius. Avoid splurging today if you
feel like you need a pick me up.
Charter a trip
Explore new waters and experience the
boating lifestyle by chartering a boat trip with
family or friends. Chartering offers options
— bareboat (with no captain) or crewed (with
captain and crew) for a few days or weeks long.
Pick your preferences and chart your course.
© Brandpoint
GEMINI
May 21 — June 20
Don’t let any underlying issues with someone upset the cosmic
apple cart today twins. You don’t like to feel crowded in or as if
someone is trying to direct you, so don’t let it happen.
VIRGO
August 23 — September 22
There is nothing worse for you than working your hardest at
something and failing or not living up to expectations, is there?
You’re the epitome of a perfectionist, however in reality, how do you
ever know something is perfect?
SAGITTARIUS
November 22 — December 21
There is nothing wrong with not being as optimistic about
something as you usually are today. Every now and again an issue
comes up that is not so easily solved.
PISCES
February 19 — March 20
The Moon in your sign today and tomorrow is the lead up to the New
Moon (on the 7th). So it could be a good time for you to work out
what it is you want to redo or push forward with, Pisces.
COMMUNITY
Wordsearch
Adam
Pooch Cafe
Building
BRICKS
CEMENT
DOORWAY
DRAIN
FLOOR
FLUE
GLASS
GUTTER
LINTEL
MORTAR
PATIO
PLANK
PLASTER
PUTTY
ROOF
SLATE
STAIRS
STONE
TILES
WALL
WINDOW
WIRING
Codeword
Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com
Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once.
Squares with the same number in have the same letter
in. Work out which number represents which letter.
Garfield
Sudoku
Bound And Gagged
Sudoku is a puzzle based
on a 9x9 grid. The grid is
also divided into nine (3x3)
boxes. You are given a
selection of values and to
complete the puzzle, you
must fill the grid so that
every column, every anone
is repeated.
PUZZLES/CARTOONS
15
COMMUNITY
PUZZLES
Quick Clues
ACROSS
1. Bucket (4)
8. Journey (10)
9. Urgent (8)
10. Afresh (4)
12. Flag (6)
14. Exceed (6)
15. Prejudiced (6)
17. Ambush (6)
18. Breed (4)
19. Vanquish (8)
21. Devilish (10)
22. Dumb (4)
GULF TIMES
Colouring
DOWN
2. Learner (10)
3. Minus (4)
4. Choice (6)
5. Musically slow (6)
6. Plan (8)
7. Recognise (4)
11. Affection (10)
13. Etch (8)
16. Scrawl (6)
17. Miscreant (6)
18. Discourteous (4)
20. Placid (4)
Cryptic Clues
Answers
Wordsearch
ACROSS
1. Hold on to your bag (4)
8. Islander is in at Laura’s new
place (10)
9. Little sticker can get bra
clean! (8)
10. Imprison for a hundred
years (4)
12. Impure sort of judge (6)
14. Quiver detected in quiet
remorse (6)
15. Bigger-sounding kitchen
implement (6)
17. Mugs set off in one direction
(6)
18. Poe’s lurid story about
disparagement (4)
19. Retarded, getting support in
hospital (8)
21. Weapon formerly used in
Norfolk? (10)
22. Fills inside of meat-safe (4)
DOWN
2. Little flier in charge of Chinese navy?
(3-7)
3. Father in discomfort (4)
4. Cupid’s love is all in the mind (6)
5. Passionate study in painting (6)
6. Dark look from one showing evidence
of violence (5,3)
7. Single event in history (4)
11. Charge made by letter for opening
under floor (6-4)
13. Break in travel arrangements (8)
16. Vigorous old boy in decay (6)
17. Division of broken corset (6)
18. Cries for ex-pupil on board (4)
20. We swallow advertisement for watertravel (4)
Codeword
Yesterday’s Solutions
QUICK
Across: 7 Elude; 8 Pungent; 9 Obscene; 10
Acted; 12 Courageous; 15 Dictionary; 18 Minus;
19 Culprit; 21 Purport; 22 Salvo.
Down: 1 Memorandum; 2 Guise; 3 Cede; 4
Appear; 5 Endanger; 6 Destroy; 11 Dissection;
13 Omission; 14 Scenery; 16 Nicety; 17 Drill; 20
Lash.
CRYPTIC
Across: 7 Hedge; 8 Sparrow; 9 Channel; 10
Draft; 12 Astrologer; 15 One-man-band; 18 Tuner;
19 Epistle; 21 Prevent; 22 Clone.
Down: 1 Chicken-out; 2 Ideal; 3 Bean; 4 Ostler;
5 Mandolin; 6 Arrange; 11 Threatened; 13
Sea-green; 14 Meander; 16 Bleats; 17 Stool; 20
Inch.
COMMUNITY
POP SPOT
in
brief
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber’s ever increasing popularity
has seen him set yet another record.
The 22-year-old Canadian heart-throb
singer has now become the first artist to
have his catalogue of videos register ten
billion views on VEVO.
The mark was achieved in six years and
three months, 2,316 days to be precise.
Four billion of those views have been
notched up since last September when
Justin began to release material from his
latest album, “Purpose.” Unsurprisingly,
he has been the number one artist on
VEVO’s viewing chart for 20 consecutive
weeks.
Justin also looks set to break a record
which he currently shares with Katy
Perry and Taylor Swift. These are the
only artists to have two song videos
reach one billion views. But with the
viewing numbers for Justin’s What Do
You Mean? now beyond 900 million,
it may not be too long before he
becomes the first artist with three videos
surpassing the one billion mark.
Jesse Leach believes the band is happy with his return as a lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage.
Going back to Killswitch Engage
good move for Jesse Leach
By Geoffrey Rowlands
N
ever go back. This is the advice
usually received by anyone wishing
to return to a former job or expartner. For the most part, it is
wise counselling. But not always.
Killswitch Engage lead vocalist and frontman
Jesse Leach is the prime example of someone for
whom going back was the best thing he could
possibly have done.
“My first time with the band didn’t end in a
great way,” Jesse reflected. “I was suffering from
depression and felt I was letting the other guys
down but I didn’t even have the mental energy
to tell them I was leaving face to face.
“I ended up writing them a long email
explaining what each song and the whole
experience of being in Killswitch Engage had
meant to me. I asked them not to try to contact
me because I thought I was done with music for
good. I didn’t know what I was going to do with
my life but it wouldn’t be music.”
The other band members were left shocked
by Jesse’s departure. Bassist Mike D’Antonio,
guitarist Joel Stroetzel and guitarist/drummer
Adam Dutkiewicz had formed Killswitch
Engage three years earlier in 1999. Jesse was
recruited shortly afterwards. Their self-titled
debut album and the 2002 follow-up, “Alive or
Just Breathing,” had attracted critical acclaim
and earned the band a fanatical following on
America’s metalcore scene.
“We knew Jesse had problems but didn’t
think he would leave,” Mike recalled. “We didn’t
really understand everything he was going
through. We actually felt slighted that he quit
by email rather than talking to us.”
Tom Gomes had been brought in on drums
which freed Adam to play lead guitar. But
the band now had to find a new singer and
lyricist.
“We tried a number of singers,” Joel revealed.
“None of them were that impressive. But we
got a call saying Blood Has Been Shed singer
Howard Jones wanted to try out. We couldn’t
believe it because we knew he was a fantastic
singer and songwriter. We had our man.”
The new line-up didn’t last long. Tom grew
tired of touring and wanted to spend more time
with his wife. He left in 2003 being replaced
by another member of Blood Has Been Shed,
drummer Justin Foley.
A period of stability was to follow with the
band recording three albums between 2004
and 2009 which saw them become established
on the mainstream music market. “The End
of Heartache,” “As Daylight Dies” and their
second self-titled album all brought Killswitch
Engage major chart success. The latter peaked
at number seven on the Billboard 200.
“We toured each album,” Adam explained.
“The tours took us across the world, not just
North America. This allowed us to build the
kind of fanbase that many mainstream artists
would love to have, let alone metal acts.”
Vocal duties for some of the “Killswitch
Engage” album concerts were performed by a
rejuvenated Jesse. With good relations having
been re-established, Jesse and All That Remains
singer Philip Labonte took turns substituting
for the incapacitated Howard Jones.
No-one knew it at the time but this episode
marked the beginning of the end for Howard.
Killswitch Engage took a break from touring
in mid-2010 with each member pursuing
other interests. These included Adam forming
the band Times of Grace with Jesse. When
Killswitch Engage entered the studio in 2012
to record their sixth album, 2013’s “Disarm the
Descent,” Jesse was the vocalist.
“We’ve never revealed Howard’s reasons for
leaving,” Justin stated. “We respect his privacy
and have always thanked him for his wonderful
contributions.
“Jesse wasn’t the automatic choice as
Howard’s replacement. He auditioned along
with several other singers but there was no
doubt about who we wanted. We jammed on the
Howard-era songs and some stuff from the early
days. Jesse just blew us away.”
“I felt honoured and blessed to be with the
band again after my ten-year break,” Jesse
emphasised. “It was obviously a strange
situation for all concerned and I’m sure the
guys must have been concerned that I’d go off
again at some time. But I’m sure the experiences
we’ve shared and the work we’ve done during
these last four years proved they made the right
choice.”
“Disarm the Descent” was a massive worldwide smash. It reached the top 20 in numerous
countries, peaked at number seven on the
Billboard 200 and hit the number one spot on
both America’s Top Hard Rock Albums and Top
Rock Albums charts.
“Incarnate,” the band’s newly released
seventh album, has done even better. It debuted
at number six on the Billboard 200, took pole
position on the Top Hard Rock Albums and Top
Rock Albums charts and became their first top
ten hit in Britain.
“Writing the album was hard labour at
times,” Jesse admitted. “I wanted to write
about current events but in a way which was
ambiguous enough for people to draw their own
conclusions. Getting that right was a problem.
“There were times when I hardly slept. I
stayed awake writing pages of words. I probably
had 80 or more pages of lyrics. I wanted to
give it everything I had, vocally and lyrically. I
couldn’t be more proud of the finished songs
and the amazing response to the album has
made everything worthwhile.”
The Last Shadow Puppets
Arctic Monkeys’ lead singer Alex Turner
and solo artist Miles Kane combine their
talents as The Last Shadow Puppets.
Their 2008 debut album, “The Age of the
Understatement,” topped the UK chart.
After an eight-year gap, they have just
released “Everything You’ve Come to
Expect” as the follow-up.
Four tracks have so far been issued as
singles. Videos for Bad Habits, Aviation
and the album title-track can all be found
at www.youtube.com/user/TLSPVEVO
There is no official video as yet for their
latest single, Miracle Aligner. But a lyric
video accompanying a live recording of
the song is posted at www.youtube.com/
watch?v=qeoIb0Euz_M
Every song on “The Age of the
Understatement,” plus one additional
track, can be heard at www.youtube.
com/watch?v=ESH65FoKzkE&list=PL0C6
BB869E205E0E2
Cape Cub
Hailing from the north-east of England
and fronted by singer/songwriter Chad
Male, Cape Cub recently released their
debut four-song EP, “Closer.” But it was
Lantern, a song not on the EP, which
really got them noticed.
“We won the Amazing Radio Audition
Poll,” Chad explained. “Then Lantern was
featured on Hypetrak and got support
from BBC Introducing. These kinds of
things are so important for new artists.”
Lantern, plus each song on “Closer,” can
be heard at (no www.) soundcloud.com/
capecub
The band have made two official videos.
One is for the Closer title-track while
the other accompanies their new single,
Swim. These are posted at www.youtube.
com/channel/UCDX-K_SeD1dde_xY0—
PJpg
Fans have created videos to partner
other Cape Cub songs and remixes.
These can be found on YouTube by
typing the band’s name in the website
search box.
GULF TIMES
17
COMMUNITY
BOLLYWOOD
I’m just trying to make my
space: Sidharth Malhotra
By Nivedita
H
CHARTING A PATH: Sidharth Malhotra
e was noticed for his
boy-next-door looks
in debut film Student
of the Year, which
garnered him many a
female fan following. After that,
he evolved as an actor with films
like Hasee Toh Phasee, Ek Villain,
Brothers and the very recent
Kapoor & Sons. Sidharth Malhotra
says he is just trying to make his
space in Bollywood, and exploring
his potential.
Sidharth says his work speaks for
his talent and passion for acting.
“Our films speak for ourselves
and what we have to offer. But
having said that, there are so
many things I want to do and can
explore ... Somethings that will
be very different from what I am
doing right now. I am just trying
to make my space and stand up in
Bollywood,” Sidharth told IANS
I’m middle-class in my thinking: Shilpa Shetty
At a time when marriages and relationships are going
kaput in tinsel town, actress-turned-entrepreneur Shilpa
Shetty, who believes she has “middle-class thinking” says
“discussions” and “arguments” are normal in any marriage.
Shilpa is married to businessman Raj Kundra. “I feel that
discussions, arguments in any marriage are very normal.
But how you get over those and resolve (them), that is
important,” Shilpa said on TV show Yaar Mera Superstar.
Karisma Kapoor-Sanjay Kapur, Hrithik RoshanSussanne Khan and Arbaaz Khan-Malaika Arora Khan are
a few celebrity couples who have parted ways after having
trouble in their paradise. “However you resolve it, you need
to make sure you do it within that circle of marriage. That’s
why I feel I’m a bit middle-class in my thinking. Trust and
respect are very important for a successful marriage.
“We should keep the marriage simple and never feel like
you’re married to keep the complications away,” added
Shilpa, who has son Viaan with Raj. Shilpa and Raj got
married in 2009. It was Raj’s second marriage. — IANS
Prabhudheva turns 43,
spends time with sons
GROUNDED: Shilpa Shetty
Watch Indian, not just Hindi
movies, urges Rishi Kapoor
RETURNING A COMPLIMENT: Rishi Kapoor
on the sidelines of the SummerResort edition of Lakme Fashion
Week (LFW).
“I am still in the process of
understanding what all I can do
with my profession in terms of
acting and where all I can push
myself ... There are lots more to
come in,” he added.
A former model, Sidharth had
his own share of struggle before
his big break with Karan Johar’s
Student Of The Year (SOTY) along
with fellow newcomers Alia Bhatt
and Varun Dhawan.
He says his modelling days was
a huge learning experience for
him. “I have fond memories of
making my pocket money from
photoshoots and fashion shows in
Delhi and I cherish those moments
and all the fun I had during my
modelling days,” said the 31-yearold, who walked the runway at the
ongoing fashion gala for designer
Kunal Rawal.
Currently riding high on the
success of his recent release
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor urged a viewer,
who enjoyed Kapoor & Sons, to not just watch
Bollywood films but other Indian movies too as
the country makes “very good films”.
A Twitter user, who rarely watches Hindi
films, praised Kapoor & Sons in a post to Rishi
Kapoor during a virtual chat on social media.
“Don’t watch Hindi movies but saw Kapoor
and Sons-superb! Such a sensitive portrayal
of an Indian family. Rishi Kapoor, Fawad Khan
and Karan Johar,” the fan tweeted.
To that, Rishi Kapoor responded: “Start
watching not only Hindi but Indian films.
We make very good films too. Return to your
roots.”
Kapoor & Sons stars Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt
and Sidharth Malhotra in lead roles, with Rishi
Kapoor playing a 90-year-old grandfather. —
IANS
Prabhudheva turned a year older
on Sunday with a quiet lunch with
his two sons who had flown in from
Chennai to Mumbai.
“They were here, as it was a
Sunday. They flew back on Sunday
afternoon in time for their school on
Monday,” Prabhudheva said.
The actor-dancerchoreographer-filmmaker has
been busy with his trilingual acting
assignment in Hindi, Tamil and
Telugu. He started shooting for the
film in January and has taken time
off from direction.
“I did act in Remo D’Souza’s
ABCD 2 last year. But it has been
a while since I faced the camera
in Tamil or Telugu. I’ve been busy
directing films. I took three months
off to act in this film,” he said. He
says he had no choice. “I wanted a
hero who didn’t charge money. I was
the only one willing to do this film
for free, since I am the co-producer.”
Prabhudheva says he was
enthused to face the camera for
this three-language film for its
uniqueness. “For the first time, the
director, Vijay attempted the horrorcomedy genre in Hindi cinema. We
haven’t really done a horror-comedy
in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.”
Prabhudheva had a different
team working with him on each of
the three versions. “We shot the
three separate languages as three
separate films. Though Tammanaah,
Sonu Sood and I feature in all three
versions, the supporting cast of
actors playing our friends is different
Kapoor & Sons, Sidharth says that
the film’s impressive box office run
has contributed a lot in his career.
“The film has added a lot of success
(in my career). I think this is the
maximum stuff that I have got so
far. Hats off to director Shakun
Batra as he is the real hero. From
start to finish, the film is complete.
It is not dependent on character,
one part, one actor, first half or
second half. It’s a complete film.”
“If everybody could relate to it
and connect with the story, I think
that’s all we can ask for from the
film and we got it,” Sidharth told
IANS.
At LFW, the actor impressed all
with his confident and composed
walk during Rawal’s show. When
asked about his personal style
statement, Sidharth said he always
takes care of his selection of
clothes whenever he steps out. “I
am in an industry where you don’t
have to try too hard. I used to try
a lot in college, but now it is less.”
— IANS
in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Each
of three three films will be culturespecific.”
The dancer-choreographer actor
says he enjoys acting.
“It frees me from the
responsibilities that come with
direction and choreography. After
every shot, I can breathe easy and
relax.”
So enthused is Prabhudheva by his
multilingual on-camera experience
that he now intends to direct a film
in Tamil or Telugu. “For the last five
years I’ve only directed Hindi films.
I may direct a Tamil or a Telugu film
next.” — By Subhash K Jha/IANS
GOING STRONG: Prabhudheva
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
‘I was so lucky, I’ve
not stopped working’
Actress Samantha Morton looks back at her difficult past as
she traverses a successful career in showbiz. By Luaine Lee
B
ritish actress Samantha
Morton admits she’s
plucky. “I was the type
of child that if at school
someone was being
bullied, I’d go and get the bully,” she
says over the din in a restaurant here
in Pasadena, California.
“I was very forthright. I think the
word is ‘fearless’ ... I’ve always had
no fear in regards to living; because
there’s so much to be afraid of that
you just have to let it all go,” she says.
Morton has a right to be fearless.
Trapped in a dysfunctional family,
she grew up in 12 foster homes as well
as some orphanages (which she calls
“child care”) leaving school at 13.
She didn’t quit school, she insists.
“I just couldn’t GET to school. I was
in social care, children’s homes and
things like that. My school was two
buses away and I’d try, and in the end,
I just got fed up with missing the bus
or not being able to get to school on
time. I didn’t have the right clothes.
I didn’t finish school,” he shakes her
head. “I suppose I was fearless as a
little girl. Now I’m less so because
when you start having children the
fear comes in about the things you
can’t control or handle,” she says,
sipping a porcelain cup of tea.
Most people remember the roundfaced actress as the winsome mute in
Woody Allen’s Sweet and Lowdown,
for which she earned an Academy
Award nomination. She snagged
another as the struggling Irish
mother in In America. She’s played a
variety of characters: from the timid
Jane Eyre to the regal Mary Queen
of Scots. And in her latest role, she’s
a veteran private eye trailing a gang
of cunning jewel thieves through
Europe.
Morton says the part of Naomi
in Sundance’s The Last Panthers,
premiering April 13, is the most like
her. “Because of what Naomi’s been
through in the war, she is incredibly
fearless as well. In a way, this role
has been the most personal to me,”
she says, “to play a soldier. My
step-father and brother are both
ex-military.”
Precocious and without family
ties, Morton began working at 16.
“I was so lucky, I’ve not stopped
working,” she smiles.
“I did a few bit parts before that,
and I did a lot of extra work because
the guy that ran the workshop where
I went, he used to get us extra work.
It’s a world that I’m very comfortable
in.”
learn your lines or turn up for work
if you’re out ‘raving.’ I suppose I got
that out of the way when I was very
little in the children’s homes — those
environments of being a little bit
angry with the world. It was only for
a few months. I think I see the world
through rose-coloured spectacles.”
GOING BY HER INSTINCTS: Samantha Morton stars in Sundance’s new thriller, The Last Panthers, premiering on
April 13.
Her childhood was not so
comfortable. “I’m 38. In the late
‘80s, early ‘90s you would get what
is referred to as an ‘education welfare
officer.’ And when you’re in care, you
just slip through the cracks. People
don’t care, really.
“But I suppose if you’re from a
normal family and all of a sudden
you’re not on the register, they might
notice something. But with me, no,”
she shrugs.
“Life is like that. You have your ups
and your downs. You make the right
choices and sometimes you make the
wrong choices. But you just have to
follow your heart and make the best
decision at that time — given all the
information that you have.”
Morton, who lives in northern
England, has a 16-year-old daughter
from an earlier relationship, an eight-
year-old daughter and a 23-monthold son with her fiance of 10 years,
Harry Holm. Holm is a photographer
and documentary filmmaker but
right now, she says, he’s a stay-athome-dad while she’s in LA for three
days. Superhero, she dubs him.
Though she’s consistently
worked, nine years ago she suffered
an accident that almost ended her
career. “A ceiling fell on my head. It
was a beautiful old house with a new
ceiling. It severed my artery so I had
a stroke and was in hospital for a long
time, and had to learn how to walk,”
she says.
“Complete rehabilitation. That
was pretty scary. When your
mortality is in question it changes
you forever in a really positive way. If
you lost the ability to walk and don’t
know if that’s going to come back in
an intensive rehab hospital, it could
go either way. And that could change
your life forever. So I’m very grateful
that I’m OK.”
How has she coped? “I think spirit
counts for a lot,” she says. “You’re
born with your soul, your spirit.
I think also you can go two ways.
When you see a lot of wrong around
you when you’re little, and you have
an internal moral compass that’s very
strong, you can look at things and
go, ‘I could go down that road, but
I don’t like that road. I don’t want
to do what those people have done.’
And a lot of the wrong I saw growing
up was mainly due to mental health
issues.”
She says she’s lucky that when
she started at 16 she worked with
dedicated actors who served as
models for her. “Because you can’t
Anderson Cooper details his
mother
Not everybody would want to
chronicle on screen the life of their
mother. But Anderson Cooper
couldn’t resist. The son of Gloria
Vanderbilt, of the fabulous Vanderbilt
fortune, Anderson says he felt
compelled to delineate the woman
he knows.
“My mom has been in the public
eye really longer than anybody else
alive. My mom is 92. Her birth made
headlines. When she was 10, she was
the subject of a really extraordinary
custody battle. It was called ‘the trial
of the century’ long before the O J
Simpson trial was called ‘the trial
of the century.’ And her entire life
has played out on a very brightly lit
stage,” he says.
“You may know her name, but
you really don’t know who she is or
what her story is.” He’ll be telling that
story when his documentary Nothing
Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt &
Anderson Cooper, premieres on HBO.
“This idea of leaving nothing
left unsaid is something that I feel
really strongly about,” he says. “My
dad died when I was 10. My mom’s
father died when she was 15 months
old. We both grew up with this
fantasy that there was a letter out
there somewhere, an idle letter from
my dad somewhere out there, and
that she had a letter from her father
out there. And both of us still kind
of secretly believe that letter will
someday show up.”
Actor grew up on castle
grounds
The masses of passionate fans
are happy that Outlander Book Two
disembarks on Starz Saturday. Sam
Heughan, who plays the dashing
Jamie, arrives at his time-travelling
role with valid credentials. “We lived
in the countryside in the southwest
of Scotland,” he says. “We lived
in old, converted stables of castle
grounds. So I lived in castle grounds
as a child, and I used to pretend I was
Robert the Bruce or King Arthur and
run around this old Kenmure Castle.
It’s still there.” — TNS
GULF TIMES 19
COMMUNITY
HOLLYWOOD
Gloria Estefan pushed
Ariana to pursue music
Singer Ariana Grande has
revealed that she was told to “not
ever give up” on music by Conga
hitmaker singer Gloria Estefan.
Grande was just six or sevenyears-old when Estefan heard her
singing karaoke on a cruise and
encouraged her to follow a career
in music, reports femalefirst.
co.uk.
Speaking on British chat show
Alan Carr: Chatty Man, Grande
recalled: “I was on vacation with
my family and I was doing karaoke
and it was a terrible song choice.
We were on a cruise and I decided
to sing My heart will go on from
Titanic. Really dark choice, but I
was only six or seven so I didn’t
know what I was doing.”
She recalled that after the
performance, Estefan wanted
to talk to her. “After I was done
somebody came up to me and was
like, ‘Gloria Estefan would like to
speak to you’. I was like, ‘Are you
serious?’ and my brother was like,
‘Are you $*****% serious?’ and we
went together to go say hi to her.
She was like, ‘I just want to let you
know that you are so talented and
do not ever give up’. It was crazy,”
Grande said. — IANS
INSPIRATION: Gloria Estefan, left, and Ariana Grande.
TAKING A DETOUR: Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow treats
kids to Coldplay concert
A
ctress Gwyneth Paltrow, who was
holidaying in South America, extended
her vacation by travelling to Peru with her
two children Apple, 11, and Moses, nine,
for ex-husband and singer Chris Martin’s
Coldplay concert.
The actress posted photographs of her journey with
the children on photo-sharing website Instagram,
reports people.com.
Paltrow arrived in Buenos Aires earlier this week,
just days before Martin’s concert with his hit band
Coldplay. Though the couple has arrived separately,
they have been spotted at the same hotel.
Martin’s new girlfriend Annabelle Wallis has also
reportedly been spotted sightseeing in the area. In
Paltrow’s most recent images, she shared a moment
wherein her children can be seen petting a llama. In
another image, the actress is seen in a make-up free
selfie while exploring the local market in Pisac, a small
village in Peru. – IANS
Mick Jagger embarrassed
over his bizarre outfits
LOOKING BACK: Mick Jagger
English singer Mick Jagger
says he flinches at nearly all the
outfits he wore during his time as
the Rolling Stones lead vocalist.
However, he admits that when a
performer is up on the stage, it’s a
different ballgame. “Do any of my
outfits make me flinch when I look
back? Ha. Nearly all of them. To
be honest, they can still make me
flinch when I think about what I’m
going to wear at the next gig, but
when you get out there on stage
it’s a bit different,” The Telegraph
newspaper quoted Jagger as saying,
reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Jagger thinks displaying them for
‘exhibtionism’ makes it even worse
because the “impression” they
created on stage was very different
than they will in a dark room.
“It’s very hard to do clothes in
an exhibition because they are
actually supposed to be worn. You
can have a very garish look, but
in front of 50,000 people in the
daylight of summer on a moving
person, the impression it creates
is very different from having
20 of them lined up in a
confined space in a dark room,”
he said.
“When clothes don’t have
movement, they all look a bit
wonky, but that’s the fun of it.
If they all looked immaculately
elegant and in wonderful good
taste, it would be boring. I mean
some of them are in hideous taste,
but that makes them funnier to
me. Some of the time you are
playing this for a laugh,” added
Jagger. The singer also shared that
in the 1970s, being outlandish was
like a norm. – IANS
Tom Hiddleston gives
weather report
Actor Tom Hiddleston dropped
by a Chicago news station as Loki,
the famous fictional character that
he portrays in Thor and Avengers
series, to update viewers on the
terrible weather hitting the area
this weekend.
Hiddleton blamed it all on his
onscreen brother Thor (Chris
Hemsworth), saying that his
“brother from another mother’s
been misbehaving”, reports variety.
com.
“The God of Thunder has
brought his skill set to bare on the
local weather,” he said. Hiddleton
added that “Chris Hemsworth has
taken his hammer and smashed it
on the surface of the sky and it’s
going to rain a helluva lot.”
Hiddleston and Hemsworth
will reprise the feuding brothers
onscreen again in Thor: Ragnarok,
which is set to release on November
3, 2017. – IANSyou will not want to
be anybody else,” she said.
“Role model is not the title they
like to give me ...But I think I can
inspire a lot of young women to
be themselves and that is half the
battle. Hopefully one day I’ll be
raising my own little black girl who
rocks,” the singer added.
Founder and chief executive
officer of Beverly Bond created
Black Girls Rock! to highlight the
achievements of black female
pioneers in art, music, philanthropy
and community service. – IANS
Chris Hemsworth
praises female co-stars
APPRECIATION: Chris Hemsworth
Actor Chris Hemsworth has
praised his female The Huntsman:
Winter’s War co-stars Jessica
Chastain, Charlize Theron and
Emily Blunt for being both
“talented and intimidating”.
The 32-year-old actor reprises
his role as Eric the Huntsman in the
upcoming adventure film and says
it is a lot less male-orientated than
the 2012 offering because of the
“talented and intimidating” female
stars Chastain, Theron and Blunt,
reports femalefirst.co.ik.
“It was great... There was a lot
less testosterone! It was a different
chemistry, but a lot of fun with
three incredibly talented and
intimidating women. I loved it,”
Hemsworth said on The Graham
Norton Show. – IANS
COMMUNITY
VCU-Q set to showcase
works of resident artists
VCU-Q Fellow Gina Hunt’s abstract paintings research the complexities and
subjectivity of vision and involve screens as a conceptual platform for investigation
By Umer Nangiana
W
ith support of
Qatar Foundation
(QF), the Painting
and Printmaking
Department at
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityQatar (VCU-Q), is showcasing the
VCU-Q Fellowship with the work of
this year’s fellow Gina Hunt.
Every year, the programme selects
two artists at varying stages of their
careers to become artists in residence
at VCU-Q. The exhibition, to be held
on 10th of this month, will feature
a new body of Hunt’s work initiated
and completed while in residence
at VCU-Q, including large-scale
paintings and installation.
Gina Hunt makes abstract paintings
as an interdisciplinary platform
to research the complexities and
subjectivity of vision. Her solo
exhibition ‘Liquid Crystal + Polymer’
features a body of work that involves
screens as a conceptual platform for
investigation.
While in residence at VCU-Q,
Hunt has been researching screens
of different scales, from the barely
perceptible grid of the digital screen, to
the small, tessellated grid of the warp
and weft of textiles, to the architectural
patterns of window screens, which
our bodies inhabit and physically
encounter.
“Finding expansive possibilities
within a limited means fascinates me,
as does the potential for a material
object to incite a perceptual event that
belies its inherent physical ‘facts’,” says
Hunt in her introductory statement.
She has a long-term research interest
involving the technologies of imaging
through the medium of light, including
the history of early photography,
optics, and the physiology of vision
inform the work.
“Structure, indexicality, pattern,
and process are conceptual platforms
which have developed into paintings
that approach both the photographic
and the sculptural. I am allowing
illusion and optical phenomena to exist
while exposing their parts in a very
direct way,” says Hunt.
A strong fascination with screens
as mediators of light has driven her
most recent body of work. Each of
these screens she is researching has the
ability to create temporary interference
patterns that activate our perception of
space, light, and colour, she says. These
patterns emerge from illumination
and the filtering of light through each
medium.
The temporality of these patterns,
paired with the emergence of colour
through light, are the most fascinating
characteristics she has invested her
research in. This is propelled by a
strong curiosity about the relationship
between these physical spaces of light
mediation (architecture and fabric) and
the digital screens that are consistently
used to view visual information.
Gina Hunt received a Bachelor of
Fine Arts in Painting, Printmaking,
and Art History from Minnesota State
University, a Master of Arts in Painting
from Minnesota State University, and
a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from
Illinois State University.
Her recent awards include the Artist
in Residence Fellowship at Virginia
Commonwealth University-Qatar, a
PLRAC/McKnight Emerging Artist
Grant, and a 2015 nomination to the
Joan Mitchell Emerging Artist Grant
Programme.
Hunt has exhibited her work widely
in solo, two-person, and group shows
throughout the United States and
internationally, including Virginia
Commonwealth University-Qatar,
The Soap Factory (Minneapolis, MN),
Front Room Gallery (Brooklyn, NY),
Woman Made Gallery (Chicago),
Hoffman LaChance Contemporary (St
Louis), Transpace Gallery (Normal, IL),
Silverwood Park Gallery (St Anthony,
MN), Viaduct Gallery (Des Moines,
IA), University of Illinois (Springfield,
IL), Ebersmoore (Chicago), Altered
Esthetics, (Minneapolis, MN),
Minnesota State University (Mankato,
MN), 410 Project (Mankato, MN) and
University of Wisconsin (LaCrosse,
WI).
Hunt’s exhibition follows an
exhibition ‘I Keep Repeating It Over
& Over In My Head’ by Nastassja E
Swift, the other fellow at residence at
VCU-Q. Swift is a graduate of Virginia
Commonwealth University, with a
major in Painting and Printmaking and
a minor in Craft and Material Studies.
A work by Gina Hunt.
EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES: Gina Hunt makes abstract paintings as an interdisciplinary platform to research
the complexities and subjectivity of vision.
Liquid Crystal + Polymer features a body of work that involves screens as a conceptual platform for investigation.

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